A piece of the wreckage from Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 is pictured in a field in eastern Ukraine. (Bulent Kilic, AFP/Getty Images)

Every nation that lost citizens on the Malaysia Airlines jet should get together and send a joint military force to recover the remains of their citizens and secure the crash site before it is too late. This would also send a strong message to Vladimir Putin.

Gil Roybal, Thornton

This letter was published in the July 22 edition.

While the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 is a terrible tragedy, we should remember that in 1988 the United States shot down Iran Air Flight 655 shortly after it took off. We considered that as an unintended tragedy. Even with the best equipment and best-trained personnel in the world, it happened to us. Instead of blaming Russia for everything, we should actually try to end this senseless conflict.

Gerald W. Berk, Evergreen

This letter was published in the July 22 edition.

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Searchers look through a field in Ukraine on Friday for wreckage from Thursday’s downing of a Malaysian jet. (Getty Images Europe)

Re: “Flight shot down,” July 18 news story.

If an adult gave a loaded handgun to a child and that child shot someone, we would consider the adult guilty of negligence and possibly a crime. If it turns out the Malaysian passenger jet was shot down by a Russian missile, provided to the Ukrainian separatists by Russia, then the blame for the murder of 298 innocent civilians lies squarely on the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin.

Daniel Avrin, Highlands Ranch

This letter was published in the July 19 edition.

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A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the second Mobile User Objective System (MUOS-2) satellite for the United States Navy lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 on July 19. (Provided by United Launch Alliance)

Re: “Russia cuts rocket supply to U.S.,” May 14 business news story.

Kudos to Elon Musk and SpaceX for having the courage to sue the U.S. Air Force over the illegal monopoly it has given to United Launch Alliance (ULA), which has resulted in dependence on Russian-made rocket engines for products it supplies to the U.S. military and space programs. Shame on those who suggest that Musk’s actions are irresponsible. It is responsible and patriotic to demand that the Air Force use multiple U.S. suppliers for our military and space programs instead of the current monopolistic approach. It is an egregious mistake for U.S. taxpayers to support the international military industrial complex to which ULA, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, belongs. Surely there are companies in the U.S. that can make engines to power our Atlas V rockets, keeping the dollars here instead of going to Russia.

Nancy A. Murphy, Denver

This letter was published in the May 17 edition.

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The entire world has justifiably condemned the Russian seizure of Crimea. It is unacceptable for one nation to seize foreign territory with the intention of permanently incorporating it as part of the “occupiers’ ” nation.

Ironically, this illegal action has been going on for decades by a U.S. ally in another part of the world. Israel has been seizing Palestinian land and expanding its settlements in the West Bank since 1967. There are now approximately 400,000 Israelis living in “occupied” Palestinian territory. The Israeli government offers tax incentives to its citizens willing to move to the West Bank to establish more settlements.

In Russia’s case, a majority of the residents of Crimea are Russian partisans and welcome the occupation. In Palestine, none of the residents welcome the Israeli occupation. Over the years, the world has repeatedly condemned the Israeli land grab, just as it is now condemning Russia for seizing Crimea. Russia and Israel are both guilty of violating world standards and U.N. resolutions.

Jim DeWall, Centennial

This letter was published in the March 26 edition.

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Russia’s President Vladimir Putin signs a law on ratification of a treaty making Crimea part of Russia in Moscow last Friday. (Sergei Chirikov, AFP, Getty Images)

Economic sanctions will do nothing to stop Vladimir Putin’s great adventures. Why not work with Ukraine to establish and improve their economic system? I’m sure there are plenty of U.S. and EU businesses that may want to work with Ukraine, such as farm implement companies, oil and gas companies, etc. Once their economies are in full swing with our and the EU’s help and presence, Russians will look across their borders in regret at the shining cities on the hills of Ukraine.

Impose an all-out economic war on Russia by making Ukraine the economic Mecca of Eastern Europe. Putin couldn’t keep up. I’m sure the Russian people would get the message quickly.

Ukraine is sitting on 39 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, not to mention oil reserves. It’s also the bread basket of Eastern Europe. Use this to choke the Russian bear.

Charles Krauthammer writes, “Why did we deny Ukraine weapons? Because in the Barack Obama-John Kerry worldview, arming the victim might be taken as a provocation.” Apparently there is no world crisis that isn’t best dealt with by waging war, in his view.

I have followed Krauthammer’s career for at least 10 years. I once saw him on stage in Boulder at the University of Colorado’s Conference on World Affairs. In response to a young man’s question on the subject of the second Iraq war, Krauthammer answered to the effect, “You should be thankful that in this country you can stand there and ask questions challenging authority as you just have.” I was reminded of nothing so much as Dr. Strangelove in the flesh and walked out.
When it comes to provocation, Krauthammer is an expert.

Lewis J. Thompson III, Denver

This letter was published in the March 25 edition.

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A man holds a sign reading “Illegal referendum” and a woman holds a sign reading “I love Ukraine!” as members of the Crimean Tatar community take part in a demonstration rally in Bakhchisarai on March 14. (Viktor Drachev, AFP/Getty Images)

Life in Ukraine for the common person has not been good and getting worse in recent years because of the insanely corrupt government of former President Viktor Yanukovych. However, the people understood this and they finally revolted at the end of 2013, threw out the old boss, and are trying to set up a new order.

Life in Russia for the common person has not been good for a long time, but the incredible Russian propaganda machine has convinced many of them that this is normal or is caused by the evil West (mainly the USA). Those who are not convinced are afraid to speak out or have been neutralized.

Here’s a little joke circulating on the Web recently (in Russian):

A dog is running across the border from Ukraine to Russia. Other dogs ask it: “Where are you going?”

The dog replies: “I’m going to Russia — it’s bad living in Ukraine!”

A week later, the same dog is running back across the border from Russia to Ukraine. Other dogs ask it: “Where are you going now?”

The dog answers: “I’m going back to Ukraine — at least I can bark there!”

Ihor Figlus, Wheat Ridge

This letter was published in the March 15 edition.

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An officer, right, stands next to a civilian reading an oath during a swearing in ceremony before joining the newly formed army of Crimea at a military base in Simferopol, Ukraine, on March 13. Crimea plans to hold a referendum on Sunday that will ask residents if they want the territory to become part of Russia. (Vadim Ghirda, The Associated Press)

If Russia thinks it is a good idea for Crimea to have a slap-dash vote on secession from Ukraine, perhaps the autonomous Russian republics of Chechnya and Dagestan, both of which have a centuries-long hatred of Russia, should also have a vote on recession from Russia. I am pretty sure Russia would not put up with that for even a second.

Robert D. Tonsing, Morrison

This letter was published in the March 14 edition.

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Russian paramilitaries stand guard outside of a Ukrainian military base in the town of Perevevalne near the Crimean city of Simferopol on March 11. (Spencer Platt, Getty Images)

It is with disgust and frustration that I watch the news of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Knowing a little history, I see Russian president Vladimir Putin’s fuzzy logic in Crimea mirroring Adolf Hitler’s of the 1930s in Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia). Then, Hitler was coming to the rescue of oppressed ethnic Germans. Now, Putin is protecting persecuted ethnic Russians. Both reasoning and motivation of Hitler and Putin are contrived, arrogant and imperialistic. That’s the disgusting part. I’m frustrated because the moral high ground we could have had is littered with the craters of our Iraq invasion. Nothing was done in the 1930s. Today, I’m hoping that Russia’s nationalistic euphoria will be short-lived when Europe and the USA freeze the considerable financial assets of Russian oligarchs.

Ron Fischer, Lakewood

This letter was published in the March 12 edition.

It is the moral obligation of every red-blooded American to demand military intervention in Ukraine to stop the Russians now, before we find ourselves in a world where our every communication is monitored, where our travel is subject to blacklists, where we can be routinely stopped and questioned, where prisons hold huge numbers, and where an elite class controls it all. The only way to preserve our freedoms here is to fight a war over there.

Doug Anderson, Littleton

This letter was published in the March 12 edition.

President Obama is doing what he was elected to do by the majority who twice voted for him: take action/exert diplomacy short of direct military involvement. No more world policeman, no more unwinnable wars that only fill the pockets of military contractors. Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham, et al, offer no ideas of what should be done.

John W. Thomas, Fort Collins

This letter was published in the March 12 edition.

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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks about the Ukraine crisis after his meetings with other foreign ministers in Paris on Wednesday. Russia is unlikely to pull back its military forces in Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, analysts and former Obama administration officials say. (Kevin Lamarque, The Associated Press)

Recent Ukraine news coverage reminds me how much control the media have in framing the nature of an actual debacle. It has barely been a year since politicians were slinging mud at each other, to the point of shutting down our government. Major television and radio media have once again chosen to travel the low road, providing political parties venues for slinging mud at one another.

Vladimir Putin counted on the media to distract the public’s focus from the crisis toward more mundane, party-serving purposes. He was not disappointed. Within days, political pundits were provided with hands-free mics, leaving their hands free for finger-pointing.

I encourage The Post to stay on the high road: Do not use my precious newspaper dollars to frame the current Ukraine crises, or any other, for that matter, as a political party problem. Let politicians find other, more positive ways (like problem-solving) to gain publicity.

Karen Marshall Gershanov, Colorado Springs

This letter was published in the March 6 edition.

What hypocrites U.S. political leaders, the media, and many other citizens are to condemn the Russian takeover of the Crimean peninsula and the possibility of further Russian military action against more of the Ukraine. These are the same Americans who cheered the unjustified, illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq by the U.S. 11 years ago. All people everywhere should condemn and oppose the unjustified, illegal and immoral attack of one nation against another, but too many Americans are eager to justify and cheer such action by our nation and just as eager to condemn such action by another nation.

Thomas M. Rauch, Denver

This letter was published in the March 6 edition.

Was anyone really surprised that the president of Russia paid no attention at all to the warning given him by the president of the United States? Why should Vladimir Putin be any different from Bashar Assad in Syria, who paid no attention to the red line in the sand, or the mullahs of Iran?

William Hinckley, Highlands Ranch

This letter was published in the March 6 edition.

In 1936, the Olympics were held in Berlin, Germany. In 1938, Germany occupied a portion of Czechoslovakia known as Sudetenland, which contained a large number of German-speaking Czech citizens.

In 2014, the Olympics were held in Sochi, Russia. Shortly thereafter, Russia occupied a portion of Ukraine known as Crimea, which contains a large number of Russian speaking Ukrainians.

The primary difference in these two invasions was that the German chancellor obtained permission from several European leaders (with the exception of Czechoslovakia itself) for his aggression in order to avoid a wider war. A few months later, Germany invaded the rest of the Czech portion of the country with little to no opposition.

Eastern Ukraine also has a large contingent of Russian-speaking citizens. Will the Russian president decide to occupy much of the rest of Ukraine to protect its Russian-speaking citizens? What will be the response from the rest of the world to this repeat of naked aggression?

Allen Pfenning, Littleton

This letter was published online only.

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I am really disappointed in the man I voted for twice for president. In my opinion, President Obama’s second term has been a disaster for America both internally and externally. He has proven to be more interested in his own image than the needs and image of the country he represents.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has certainly seen his opening: a weak president who has surrounded himself with a weak Cabinet, e.g., Chuck Hagel and John Kerry.

Weep for the oppressed people of Eastern Europe, as the nascent USSR is re-emerging, and our president dithers, uses empty language, and seems to be more interested in nice vacations and traveling the world than stepping up to the plate for our country and the world.

John Russell McDavid, Fort Collins

This letter was published in the March 4 edition.

I wonder if John Kerry realized the irony when, referring to Vladimir Putin, he told David Gregory on “Meet the Press,” “You just don’t in the 21st century behave in 19th century fashion by invading another country on completely trumped-up pretext.” I wish he’d felt that way when he voted to let George W. Bush invade Iraq. Problems arise when you act like a thug and a real thug comes along. Forfeiting the moral high ground can be a dangerous move.

Charles Krauthammer is a member of the fervently jingoistic group of Republican “America firsters” who believe it is the U.S.A. that has inherited the God-given right to succeed Great Britain in forever holding sway over the “lesser” peoples of the world, i.e., everyone else. His assertion that sailing a U.S. naval war fleet into the Black Sea is a logical, reasonable or necessary piece of the solution to this very complex and dangerous situation is both incendiary and entirely counterproductive.

Tim Flynn, Denver

This letter was published in the March 4 edition.

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Guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 150 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address, day and evening phone numbers, and may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.

To reach the Denver Post editorial page by phone: 303-954-1331

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